Rupert Banner is the Vice President of Business Development at Bonhams in New York. He works closely with the US Motor Car Department to develop and support auctions throughout the country.

He has been surrounded by the car hobby since his youth, regularly attending car auctions for the last 30 years. His career has included 17 years at two international auction houses, where, in his latter years, he headed a worldwide car department.

Highlights of his career have included achieving world record prices for Bentley and Isotta Fraschini marques, and numerous collections, including that of Sir Elton John. In 2007, he moved to New York to build Bonhams East Coast presence, quickly developing the business with the sell-out Richard C. Paine Jr. auction and adding the Greenwich venue to Bonhams regular auction calendar.

Since then, he has pioneered an additional sale at the Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance in Westport, Conn., and has handled important consignments, ranging from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's BMW M1 Art Car to a Mercedes-Benz SS Sports Tourer.

During his time with Bonhams, Banner has been responsible for securing additional venues and a combined total of more than $30 million of business.